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| By Rob McCurdy
CentralOhio.com

No matter what all the empty seats say, the Buckeyes contend there is a purpose to all these mid-major games fans are asked to endure through November and December.

If things go to plan, Ohio State will enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed. If things get a little sideways, maybe it will be a 2-, 3-, or 4-seed. Regardless, that almost assures that the Buckeyes would see a mid-major in that first round match-up - and history shows No. 15s can upset No. 2s.

"It's games like this that will prepare us for games like that," Ohio State senior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. said. "You have to prepare for them just ...